SORRENTO PUZZLE BOX ANTIQUE VICTORIAN ITALIAN INTARSIA OLIVEWOOD , LOCK & KEY.

Description: These unique and intriguing boxes make an ideal present most specially at the Festive Season, you can not buy these at Amazon nor at Harrods and no one else is likely to duplicate your gift. Here we have a lovely example of The famous Sorrento Puzzle Box made in Italy about Victorian times and is in good complete condition with its working lock and key. This box measures approx 24 x 12 x 12 cms and weighs 875 grammes. All offers appreciated and welcome and no offence shall be taken, be brave!! On the whole this box is in a lovely antique condition with fair wear and tear plus commensurate markings in keeping with its age and past use. The inlaid detail is pretty well intact which is nice to see. The majority of the markings are naturally occurring to the wood itself such is the nature of olivewood though it is really very good considering its great age. The lid is a good fit with hinges that are safe and secure and this opens up to its interior lined with original red velvet. A lovely antique puzzle box to add to a collection or to hide away those secret personal possessions which is now a very collectable piece with it being one of the earlier boxes. Please take care to view all the images as these represent a true showing of this items condition. Some History and Information on Sorrento boxes and Intarsia These boxes are amongst the most common antique puzzle boxes found. They were made in Sorrento in Italy from the early 1800's to the present day. They were very popular during the times of the "Grand Tour" and were sought after as gifts when returning home as they remain today, often bought at festive seasons. Usually made of Olivewood the quality can vary widely. To open a locked box in good condition: -Slide the lower front spine to the left. Slide the lower right panel forward to open the base compartment. Tip the key out of the base. Slide the main body of the box forward over the base book. Lower the central spine to reveal the keyhole. Unlock the box with the key. (The lock is usually a typical cheap double throw lock and may the turned anti-clockwise twice.) Open the lid. The earlier puzzle boxes made in the late 19th Century tend to be the better craftsmanship with fine inlay and tesselation work. Swallows became a recurring motif and the early swallows were entirely inlaid whereas later ones were part inlaid with the white parts painted. The paint used was very inferior and has often rubbed off. Some later decoration was all paint and in the 1960s postcards under glass were used to decorate to the lids.Some of the simple puzzle boxes just involve sliding the front panel about 5 cm. to unlock the lid.It is a tribute to the original makers that the principle of the stack of books is even nowbeing copied all round the world including Eastern Europe, India, & North Africa; however none of the modern ones match the quality of the antique ones from Sorrento. SORRENTO WARE Today, the Italian town of Sorrento, for the time being, is the centre of a thriving marquetry industry. I say at the time being because on a recent visit and talking to some of those involved, it appears that it is becoming more difficult to engage the young?s interest in following this traditional craft. Since the early 19th century highly skilled Sorrento practitioners have created a vast range of inlayed and marquetry work, it has even acquired its own descriptive title: Sorrento ware. This can range from huge marquetry wall panels like those in Sorrento Cathedral to delicately stunning musical boxes. Intarsia Early technique whereby thick saw-cut veneers are individually inlaid into a solid wood ground, developed during the Italian renaissance. The term is used today in Italy to describe marquetry. It is also used today to describe designs (usually pictorial) made up of shaped solid wood permanently assembled jig-saw fashion.

Price: 59 GBP

Location: Deal

End Time: 2024-11-27T16:39:56.000Z

Shipping Cost: 35.07 GBP